Firms Spend Less on
Trips
Incentive buyers spent
more on merchandise rewards in 2003 but less on travel than they
did four years ago, according to a study commissioned by the
Naples, Fla.-based Incentive Federation, a consortium of industry
associations.
The survey, conducted by the Princeton, N.J.-based Center for
Concept Development Ltd., polled 540 executives from a
cross-section of industries, all of whom use incentive programs.
The Incentive Federation compared the findings to results of a
similar study from 1999.
In 2003, the average cost of merchandise rewards per participant
was $1,035 for dealer incentives (up from $809 in 1999), followed
by $566 for sales incentives (up from $552) and $180 for nonsales
recognition (up from $121).
Travel was a different story: In 2003, trips for sales winners
cost approximately $1,473 per participant, followed by $1,467 for
dealers and $980 for nonsales recognition program winners.
That is a significant drop from 1999, when travel programs cost an
average of $2,317 for dealers, $1,981 for sales participants and
$1,070 for nonsales winners.
“The findings indicate some travel spending is being diverted to
merchandise,” said Incentive Federation executive director Howard
Henry.
Changes also were noted in travel suppliers used by respondents.
For sales programs, 31 percent of respondents purchased travel
directly from airlines, hotels, etc., up from 23 percent in 1999.
More nonsales buyers (22 percent, compared with 19 percent) went
direct, too.
In all three program categories, corporate travel agencies lost
ground: They were used by 29 percent (down from 37 percent) for
sales programs, 14 percent (down from 19 percent) for dealer
programs and 11 percent (down from 22 percent) for nonsales
programs.
SITE Bestows Crystal
Awards
The Chicago-based Society of Incentive
& Travel Executives announced the winners of the 2003 Crystal
Awards at a special ceremony held in September. Among those
honored:
" Most outstanding program, more than 200 participants, for four
nights: PGI, Vancouver (now called Destinator by PGI,
Vancouver)
" Most outstanding program, five to 75 participants, five nights or
more: The Incentive Consultants, based in Sydney, Australia
" Most outstanding program, more than 200 participants, five nights
or more: Minneapolis-based MotivAction LLC and San Diego-based
Incentive Travel LLC
" Most outstanding promotion: The Light Group, based in White
Plains, N.Y.
" Most outstanding single event: St. Cloud, Minn.-based Creative
Memories
" Most outstanding catered event: Harith Productions, Ltd.,
Oreland, Pa., and Atlantis, Bahamas.